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quadriceps femoris muscle
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muscles of the human leg
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muscles of the human leg
muscles of the human leg Anterior view of the muscles of the human leg.

quadriceps femoris muscle

anatomy
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muscle
leg
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proteins
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proteinsHow proteins build muscle.
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anterior view of human leg muscles
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anterior view of human leg musclesAn anterior view of human leg muscles, showing the rectus femoris muscle (bipennate fibred muscle), the extensor digitorum longus (unipennate fibred muscle), and the tibialis anterior muscle (parallel fibred muscle).

quadriceps femoris muscle, large fleshy muscle group covering the front and sides of the thigh. It has four parts: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius. They originate at the ilium (upper part of the pelvis, or hipbone) and femur (thighbone), come together in a tendon surrounding the patella (kneecap), and insert at (are attached to) the tibia (shinbone). These muscles extend the legs at the knee and are important for standing, walking, and almost all activities involving the legs.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michele Metych.